Spiritual Master / Guru

Published on November 8th, 2024 | by Madhudvisa dasa

22

The Guru Is A Pure Devotee!

During Srila Prabhupada’s physical presence there was no confusion in ISKCON over the qualifications and qualities of a bona fide guru. Srila Prabhupada was personally present and he exhibited all the qualities perfectly and all the devotees understood the spiritual master was a pure devotee.
Yasodanandana: Before you came, many gurus came, but they did not make any pure devotee of Krsna.Prabhupada: How they can? HE IS NOT PURE DEVOTEE OF KRSNA. HOW CAN HE DO? Krsna-sakti vina nahe nama pracara: “WITHOUT BEING EMPOWERED BY KRSNA NOBODY CAN TURN A PERSON TO BECOME DEVOTEE OF KRSNA.” It is not… ARTIFICIALLY, YOU CANNOT MAKE. HE MAY MAKE A SHOW of gold manufacturing, but HE CANNOT MAKE A DEVOTEE OF KRSNA. THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE. (750203mw.haw)

During Srila Prabhupada’s physical presence there was no confusion in ISKCON over the qualifications and qualities of a bona fide guru. Srila Prabhupada was personally present and he exhibited all the qualities perfectly and all the devotees understood the spiritual master was a pure devotee. That’s what Srila Prabhupada demonstrated by his personal actions, that’s what he wrote in his books, that’s what he preached in his classes and that’s what the devotees understood and accepted. The spiritual master is a transparent via-medium to Krishna. His words are non-different from Krishna’s, hearing him is just as good as hearing Krishna personally. And his words are absolute and perfect because he is not presenting his own ideas, he is simply repeating what Krishna and the previous acaryas have said in a way suitable for the understanding of the audience. He’s not changing the message, adulterating it or adding in any ideas of his own, he’s presenting Krishna’s words and Krishna’s philosophy AS IT IS.

“…Because ONE WHO HAS UNDERSTOOD KRSNA PERFECTLY… THIS IS THE QUALIFICATION OF GURU. So that qualification, to attain, is not very difficult. BUT BECAUSE WE ARE RASCALS, WE DO NOT TRY TO TAKE THE QUALIFICATION. THAT QUALIFICATION IS VERY SIMPLE. One… Who can understand Krsna? KRSNA IS NOT SO CHEAP THING. He has said already that yatatam api siddhanam kascin mam vetti tattvatah. SO IT IS NOT VERY EASY. BUT IT IS VERY EASY IF YOU TAKE THE PROCESS, easiest process. What is that easiest process? That easiest process: YOU DON’T TALK NONSENSE; YOU SIMPLY TALK WHAT KRSNA HAS SAID. THAT’S ALL. And many times they give me very great credit that I have done wonderful. Yes, I have done wonderful. But what is the reason? Because I AM NOT A RASCAL. I SPEAK WHAT KRSNA HAS SPOKEN. THAT’S ALL. VERY EASY. EVERYONE CAN DO THAT. NOT ONLY I. ANY OF YOU, YOU CAN DO THIS. SIMPLY SPEAK what is…, WHAT KRSNA HAS SAID. That’s all. DON’T MAKE ADDITION, ALTERATION. Then you become rascal. Immediately you become rascal.” (740810SB.VRN)

Of course a bona fide guru is free from all material desires and always relishing transcendental bliss on the spiritual platform. He no longer has any attachment to the material world at all. He is enjoying a higher, spiritual taste. He’s always thinking of Krishna and Krishna’s pastimes, he’s always chanting Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. He’s very anxious to use every moment in Krishna’s service, therefore he does not like to waste even a second without thinking of Krishna and doing some practical service for Krishna. Therefore he does not sleep very much or eat very much. He considers sleeping a great waste of time and tries to minimise it as much as possible and he respects Krishna’s prasadam, but he relishes seeing his disciples and the fallen conditioned souls enjoying Krishna’s prasadam more than enjoying eating it himself. His pleasure is in seeing his disciples prepare and offer sumptuous, first-class food to Krishna and to see that sumptuous prasadam distributed to the fallen conditioned souls.

“…Therefore real, steady bhava is definitely displayed in the matter of CESSATION OF MATERIAL DESIRES (ksanti), UTILISATION OF EVERY MOMENT IN THE TRANSCENDENTAL LOVING SERVICE OF THE LORD (avyartha-kalatvam), EAGERNESS FOR GLORIFYING THE LORD CONSTANTLY (nama-gane sada ruci), ATTRACTION FOR LIVING IN THE LAND OF THE LORD (pritis tad-vasati sthale), COMPLETE DETACHMENT FROM MATERIAL HAPPINESS (virakti), and PRIDELESSNESS (mana-sunyata). One who has developed all these transcendental qualities is really possessed of the bhava stage, AS DISTINGUISHED FROM THE STONEHEARTED IMITATOR OR MUNDANE DEVOTEE.” (SB 2.3.24)

“This is the injunction, Vedic. If you want to know things which is beyond your conception, beyond your sense perception, then you must approach a bona fide spiritual master. What is the symptom of bona fide spiritual master? EVERYONE WANTS TO BECOME SPIRITUAL MASTER. So that is also stated. Sabde pare ca nisnatam. One who has taken complete bath in the ocean of the Vedic literature, sabde pare ca nisnatam. Just like if you take bath, you become refreshed. If you take nice bath, you feel refreshed. Sabde pare ca nisnatam. Without refreshness, one cannot understand this sublime subject matter. And the guru, or the spiritual master, should be refreshed by taking bath in the ocean of Vedic knowledge. And what is the result? Sabde pare ca nisnatam brahmany upasamasrayam. By, after such cleanliness, he has taken shelter of the Supreme Absolute Truth, without any material desires. HE HAS NO MORE ANY MATERIAL DESIRES; HE’S SIMPLY INTERESTED IN KRSNA, or the Absolute Truth. These are the symptoms of guru, or spiritual master.” (720908BG.PIT)

“…There may be many great souls–jnanis, yogis… Bhaktas, or pure devotees, are also called great souls–but THEY ARE VERY RARELY FOUND. One can find many great souls amongst yogis and jnanis, but a truly great soul, A PURE DEVOTEE OF THE LORD, WHO IS FULLY SURRENDERED TO THE LORD, IS VERY RARELY FOUND (sa mahatma sudurlabhah, Bg. 7.19). A DEVOTEE’S MIND IS ALWAYS CALM, QUIET AND DESIRELESS because he is always anyabhilasita-sunyam, HAVING NO DESIRE OTHER THAN TO SERVE KRSNA as His personal servant, friend, father, mother or conjugal lover. Due to his association with Krsna, a devotee is always very calm and cool…” (SB 4.24.20)

“‘A SOBER PERSON WHO CAN TOLERATE THE URGE TO SPEAK, THE MIND’S DEMANDS, THE ACTIONS OF ANGER, AND THE URGES OF THE TONGUE, BELLY, AND GENITALS IS QUALIFIED TO MAKE DISCIPLES ALL OVER THE WORLD.’ In this verse Rupa Gosvami mentions six “pushings” (vegam). This pushing is a kind of impetus. For instance, when nature calls, we have to go to the toilet, and we cannot check this urge. So this urge is called vegam, a kind of pushing. According to Rupa Gosvami, there are six vegams. Vaco vegam is the urge to talk unnecessarily. That is a kind of pushing of the tongue. Then there is krodha-vegam, the urge to become angry. When we are pushed to anger, we cannot check ourselves, and sometimes men become so angry that they commit murder. Similarly, the mind is pushing, dictating, “You must go there at once,” and we immediately go where we are told. The word jihva-vegam refers to the tongue’s being urged to taste palatable foods. Udara-vegam refers to the urges of the belly. Although the belly is full, it still wants more food, and that is a kind of pushing of the belly. And when we yield to the pushings of the tongue and the belly, the urges of the genitals become very strong, and sex is required. If one does not control his mind or his tongue, how can he control his genitals? In this way, there are so many pushings, so much so that the body is a kind of pushing machine. Rupa Gosvami therefore tells us that ONE CAN BECOME A SPIRITUAL MASTER ONLY WHEN HE CAN CONTROL ALL THESE URGES.” (PoP 5)

After Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance from our mundane vision in 1977 the GBC (in conjunction with senior members of the Gaudiya Math) concocted the “Zonal Acarya System,” claiming Srila Prabhupada appointed eleven acaryas as his successors. They continued to preach the same “Guru-Tattva” Srila Prabhupada taught us and showed us by his personal example, claiming that Srila Prabhupada’s “successors” were on the same level of spiritual advancement as him. Unfortunately, the new “Acaryas” were not actually as advanced as Srila Prabhupada and could not live their lives according to the philosophy or exhibit the symptoms of a pure devotee so the whole thing was a fas. Any devotee who noticed this and mentioned something was immediately branded an “envious snake,” an offender of the “pure devotee” and treated accordingly (bashed, sometimes killed, blasphemed, thrown out and banned from all ISKCON temples, etc.) The same treatment was given to any initiated disciple of Srila Prabhupada who was not prepared to surrender to and worship the “Zonal Acarya” [his godbrother] as if he was his spiritual master!

“Gosani means gosvami. A person who has full control over the senses and mind is called a gosvami or gosani. ONE WHO DOES NOT HAVE SUCH [SENSE] CONTROL IS CALLED GODASA, OR A SERVANT OF THE SENSES, AND CANNOT BECOME A SPIRITUAL MASTER. A spiritual master who actually has control over the mind and senses is called gosvami.” (Adi 7.13)

From the beginning, any intelligent person could see these men were not the acaryas and pure devotees described in Srila Prabhupada’s books at all. Of course they may have been sincere devotees, but they falsely elevated themselves to a very high position without any authority and without the necessary purity, realization or spiritual advancement and violently suppressed any of their godbrothers who objected. It’s human nature that when one is elevated to a very high post he thinks he’s qualified to accept it. I just read that yesterday in the Sri Caitanya-caritmrta. When Sanatana Gosvami was in prison and was trying to get out by bribing the prison officer who was a Muslim he addressed him as a great holy man and a very advanced scholar of the Koran and Srila Prabhupada says in his purport that it appears Sanatana Gosvami was trying to cheat the jail officer:

“It appears from this statement that Sanatana Gosvami, who was formerly a minister of the Nawab, was trying to cheat the Mohammedan superintendent. A jail superintendent had only an ordinary education, or practically no education, and he was certainly not supposed to be very advanced in spiritual knowledge. However, just to satisfy him, Sanatana Gosvami praised him as a very learned scholar of the Scriptures. THE JAILKEEPER COULD NOT DENY THAT HE WAS A LEARNED SCHOLAR BECAUSE WHEN ONE IS ELEVATED TO AN EXALTED POSITION, ONE THINKS ONESELF FIT FOR THAT POSITION…” (Madhya 20.6)

“So these are to be practiced. Etan vegan yo visaheta dhirah: ‘One who has become successful in controlling the urges of all these things,’ prthivim sa sisyat, ‘now he’s free to make disciples all over the world.’ And they’re not, that… I CANNOT CONTROL EVEN MY TONGUE AND CONTROL MY GENITAL, AND I BECOME SPIRITUAL MASTER? THIS IS NONSENSE. THIS IS NONSENSE. YOU LEARN FIRST OF ALL. TRY TO CONTROL. BECOME FIRST-CLASS CONTROLLER, dhirah. That is called dhirah, not disturbed by any urges. Etan vegan yo visaheta dhirah. Dhiras tatra na muhyati. This word is used, dhirah. DHIRAH MEANS VERY SOBER, FULLY CONTROLLED. That is called dhirah. Dhiras tatra na muhyati. UNLESS YOU BECOME DHIRAH, YOU CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHAT IS SPIRITUAL LIFE. THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE. Therefore Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita, tatha dehantara-praptir dhiras tatra na muhyati. Dhiras tatra na muhyati.” (740116SB.HAW)

There were a number of visits to one of Srila Prabhupada’s godbrothers by some members of the GBC soon after Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance and some reports suggest he told them that they were qualified to be acarya’s, just like Srila Prabhupada. Of course there is a possibility he was trying to cheat the leaders of Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON, knowing well the appointment of unqualified men as Acarya had destroyed the Gaudiya Math and it was sure to have the same effect on ISKCON…

“..In the latter days of my Guru Maharaja he was very disgusted. Actually, he left this world earlier, otherwise he would have continued to live for more years. Still he requested his disciples to form a strong Governing body for preaching the cult of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. HE NEVER RECOMMENDED ANYONE TO BE ACARYA OF THE GAUDIYA MATH. BUT ______ _____ IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DISOBEYING THIS ORDER of Guru Maharaja, and he and others who are already dead unnecessarily thought that there must be one acarya. IF GURU MAHARAJA COULD HAVE SEEN SOMEONE WHO WAS QUALIFIED AT THAT TIME TO BE ACARYA HE WOULD HAVE MENTIONED… SO ______ _____ and his two associate gentlemen UNAUTHORIZEDLY SELECTED ONE ACARYA AND LATER IT PROVED A FAILURE. THE RESULT IS NOW EVERYONE IS CLAIMING TO BE ACARYA EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY BE KANISTHA ADHIKARI WITH NO ABILITY TO PREACH. In some of the camps the acarya is being changed three times a year. THEREFORE WE MAY NOT COMMIT THE SAME MISTAKE IN OUR ISKCON CAMP….

But the GBC did not care to follow Srila Prabhupada’s clear instructions and immediately after his disappearance they were off to the Gaudiya Matha for “advice” on how the initiations for new devotees should go on. And they came back puffed-up and thinking they were just like Srila Prabhupada and they appointed themselves “acaryas” “just like Prabhupada”…

“THE JAILKEEPER COULD NOT DENY THAT HE WAS A LEARNED SCHOLAR BECAUSE WHEN ONE IS ELEVATED TO AN EXALTED POSITION, ONE THINKS ONESELF FIT FOR THAT POSITION…”

“In the Bhagavad-gita (18.5), Krsna clearly states that sacrifice, charity, and penance are never to be given up by a transcendentalist. If he is at all intelligent he must continue these three activities, even if he is highly elevated. A DEVOTEE IS NATURALLY VERY HUMBLE, AND EVEN IF HE IS HIGHLY ELEVATED HE DOES NOT CONSIDER HIMSELF TO BE SO. A practical example is found in the life of the author of the Caitanya-caritamrta, Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami. He was a vastly learned scholar and a first-class devotee, yet he still referred to himself as the lowest of mankind, lower than the bacteria in the stool. He wrote that he was so sinful that no one should even utter his name, lest that person fall down! Of course, when a great devotee speaks this way, we should not believe that he is actually in the lower status of life; we should rather take it as evidence that out of humility A PURE DEVOTEE NEVER THINKS HE IS ELEVATED. HE ALWAYS THINKS HE IS IN THE LOWEST STATUS OF SPIRITUAL LIFE.” (NBS 13)

So we all know the result of the “Zonal Acarya” system… Tens of thousands of innocent devotees were fooled into thinking these men were appointed by Srila Prabhupada as his successors and if one did not surrender to the “Zonal Acarya” and serve him in every way he was an “envious snake” and was disobeying Srila Prabhupada. So these acaryas collected disciples, not on the strength of their own preaching and purity, but on the strength and purity of Srila Prabhupada. Prabhupada attracts and convinces new devotees by their reading of his books and by the association and preaching of sincere devotees who are actually following Srila Prabhupada. Once the new devotees were attracted by Srila Prabhupada the Zonal Acaryas took over and stopped them from worshiping Srila Prabhupada in any way, shape or form, and forced them to direct that worship to them INSTEAD. Unfortunately they were not transparent via-mediums to Krishna as Srila Prabhupada is. Therefore instead of understanding the offerings and service of their disciples were not meant for their sense gratification, rather their position was to offer whatever their disciples offered to them to Srila Prabhupada, then Srila Prabhupada would offer it to Srila Bhaktsiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur and so on up to Krishna, they hijacked the offerings and service of their disciples and enjoyed themselves!

“OTHERWISE DON’T TRY TO BECOME GURU. Impersonalists, half-understood, partially understood, HE CANNOT BECOME GURU. This is the Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s formula. Therefore FIRST OF ALL TRY TO UNDERSTAND KRSNA. YOU WILL UNDERSTAND IN SUCH A WAY THAT YOU CAN REFUTE ALL OTHERS’ ARGUMENT, ALL OTHERS’ OPPOSITION. THERE ARE SO MANY OPPOSING ELEMENTS. THEN YOU ARE GURU. OTHERWISE YOU CANNOT BECOME A GURU. GURU IS NOT SO TEENY THING OR TRIFLE THING THAT EVERYONE BECOMES GURU MAHARAJA, no. THAT IS NOT GURU. Sa mahatma… Vasudevah sarvam iti sa mahatma sudurlabhah. (750128BG.TOK)

“One who cannot deliver his dependents from the path of repeated birth and death should never become a spiritual master, a father, a husband, a mother or a worshipable demigod.” (770217rc.may)

“…The conditioned souls, therefore, must hear with appreciation and devotion the Lord’s pastimes in relationship with the external energy, and such acts are as good as the hearing of rasa-lila in the liberated stage. A CONDITIONED SOUL SHOULD NOT IMITATE THE ACTIVITIES OF LIBERATED SOULS. Lord Sri Caitanya never indulged in hearing the rasa-lila with ordinary men.” (SB 2.7.53)

The result was all the sincere devotees who were fooled into thinking it was Srila Prabhupada who wanted them to surrender to these men and serve them, and who thought they were serving Srila Prabhupada and Krishna by serving them, did not get the results they expected from their “devotional service.” Because the result of serving a person who is materially interested is NOT NOT NOT the same as the result of serving a pure devotee. One is the path to hell and the other is the path back home, back to Godhead…

“Those who are always engaged in bhajana–Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare–they are mahatmas. Mahatmanas tu mam partha daivim prakrtim asritah, bhajanty ananya-manasah. This is bhajana–Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama… There is mahatma. So mahat-sevam dvaram ahur vimukteh. IF YOU SERVE SUCH A MAHATMA, JUST LIKE HARIDASA THAKURA, WHO IS ALWAYS ENGAGED IN CHANTING HARE KRSNA, HARE KRSNA, THEN YOUR PATH OF LIBERATION IS OPEN. And tamo-dvaram ahur yositam sangi-sangam. AND IF YOU ASSOCIATE WITH MATERIALISTIC PERSONS WHO ARE AFTER SENSE GRATIFICATION, then your tamo-dvaram… THAT IS THE WAY TO DARKNESS. The life’s business is not tamo-dvaram. Tamasi ma jyotir gama. Jyotir gama, go to the light. Don’t remain in… This is Vedic instruction.” (741120SB.BOM)

So these devotees serving Srila Prabhupada’s “successors” found, even thought they were sincerely following the process of Krishna consciousness to their best ability, their material desires were increasing rather than decreasing… For that is the result of serving someone who has material desires…

“Therefore, THE GURU IS ALWAYS ENGAGED IN CHANTING. Mahaprabhoh kirtana-nrtya-gita–chanting and dancing. UNLESS HE PERFORMS IT HIMSELF, HOW CAN HE TEACH HIS DISCIPLES? So his first symptom is that he will give you such instructions that IMMEDIATELY YOU WILL FEEL RELIEF FROM ALL ANXIETY, and his second symptom is that HE IS ALWAYS PERSONALLY ENGAGED IN CHANTING THE HOLY NAME OF THE LORD AND DANCING. Mahaprabhoh kirtana-nrtya-gita vaditra-madyan-manaso rasena–the spiritual master enjoys transcendental bliss within his mind by chanting and dancing. Unless you become blissful, you cannot dance. You cannot dance artificially. When devotees dance, it is not artificial. They feel some transcendental bliss, and therefore they dance. It is not that they are dancing dogs. No. Their dancing is performed from the spiritual platform… “The spiritual master is always thinking of the pastimes of Krsna with His consort–Srimati Radharani–and the gopis. Sometimes he is thinking about Krsna’s pastimes with the cowherd boys. This means that he is always thinking of Krsna engaged in some kind of pastime. Pratiksanasvadana-lolupasya. Pratiksana means he is thinking that way twenty-four hours a day. That is Krsna consciousness. ONE MUST BE ENGAGED TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY IN THINKING OF KRSNA. You have to make yourself a program like this. We, at least, have made such a program–ALL THE BOYS AND GIRLS IN THE KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS MOVEMENT ARE ENGAGED TWENTY-FOUR HOURS DAILY–not just officially, not that once a week they meditate or go to some temple. No, THEY ENGAGE TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY.” (JSD 4.2)

So it was very difficult. Most devotees blamed themselves for their inability to follow the process and principles and gradually fell down from the regulative principles and left the movement disappointed, frustrated and bewildered, not really understanding what went wrong at all.

“Just like anger, tongue. then jihva-vegam. Then udara-vegam. From tongue come little down. Udara means belly. The belly is already filled up, still I want to fill it more. That is called vegam, pushing of the belly. And when there is so much pushing of the tongue and pushing of the belly, the next underneath the genital, there is force of the genital. Then I require some sex. If I eat more, if I use my tongue unnecessarily, if I allow my mind to do anything and everything, then I cannot check my genital also. There will be sex urge which I cannot check. In this way there are so many pushing. Rupa Gosvami says ONE WHO HAS CONTROL OVER ALL THIS PUSHING MACHINE, HE CAN BECOME SPIRITUAL MASTER. NOT THAT SPIRITUAL MASTER IS MANUFACTURED. ONE HAS TO LEARN THIS. How to check the pushing of these things. Etan vegan yo visaheta dhirah. ONE WHO CAN CONTROL OVER THESE PUSHINGS AND REMAIN DHIRAH, STEADY, prthivim sa sisyat: HE CAN MAKE DISCIPLES ALL OVER THE WORLD. Open. Yes. (690218BG.LA)

Gradually it became so obvious the “Zonal Acaryas” were not qualified and the whole system collapsed. The “solution,” dreamt up by an ISKCON sannyasi and a disciple of one of Srila Prabhupada’s godbrothers, was to invent a new type of “guru.” They conceived of a “guru” who would be under the jurisdiction of the GBC, who was not absolute, who could break the regulative principles, yet still remain a “bona fide ISKCON guru”, who didn’t really have to chant 16 rounds even or get out of bed for Mangala Aroti, who didn’t have to exhibit any of the symptoms of a guru clearly mentioned in Srila Prabhupada’s books, and above all ISKCON would no longer take any responsibility at all for any of these “gurus”. There was to be no guarantee to devotees at all that these “bona fide ISKCON gurus” were even devotees in good standing!! Let the buyer beware! This is the current ISKCON guru system… At least as far as we can understand…

Under this system the GBC is quite happy to approve any disciple of Srila Prabhupada as a “guru” as long as they have some “aspiring disciples” and there are no serious objections from the Temple Presidents or the GBC… There is apparently no other qualification…

Now the GBC quite openly hold “GBC appraisals” and “guru appraisals” and also warn and suspend gurus to indicate to their disciples that it’s time to start thinking about getting “reinitiated” yet again… The GBC publish the findings of their appraisals informing us that many of their “Gurus” and GBC’s are not even able to come up to the basic standard that was expected of a new bhakta who wanted to live in a temple in Srila Prabhupada’s physical presence. Then it was very clear that to live in the temple it was required all devotees actually follow the four regulative principles [no illicit sex, no meat eating, no gambling and no intoxication], if they couldn’t follow they couldn’t stay in the temple. All the devotees [even the married ones] got out of bed before 4:00am, took bath and attended the whole morning program [Mangala-aroti, Tulsi-puja, chanting japa, Deity Greeting, Srila Prabhupada’s Guru-puja, Kirtana, Class, Kirtana, Prasadam] and everyone voluntarily agreed to be engaged FULL TIME in some service for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada and Krishna [most often distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books]…. Actually this is the medicine to cure the disease we are all suffering from in the material world. This is sadhana-bhakti, Krishna consciousness… This material disease is so acute that if we don’t engage in Krishna consciousness 24 hours a day, Maya is so strong she will divert us from the path, back home, back to Godhead.

“As Brahma, the first created being, had to undergo tapasya to get information from the Supreme… The Supreme Lord is within you. He’s there. But He will advise. When you are fixed up by tapasya, determined with vow, then He will talk to you. He’s ready to talk, but you require to acquire the qualification to hear Him. And what is that qualification? This Krsna consciousness, devotional service. As it is said in the Bhagavad-gita, tesam satata-yuktanam bhajatam priti-purvakam. Such persons… Tesam satata-yuktanam. SATATA MEANS ALWAYS, TWENTY-FOUR HOURS, NOT THAT FIVE MINUTES I MEDITATE AND REST OF THE TIME I LIVE LIKE CATS AND DOGS. No. This kind of meditation will not help you. Krsna says, satata. Satata means twenty-four hours. YOU HAVE TO MOLD YOUR LIFE IN SUCH A WAY THAT TWENTY-FOUR HOURS YOU’LL THINK OF KRSNA. THIS IS KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS. IF YOU THINK, ‘NOW I HAVE CHANTED MY SIXTEEN ROUNDS. NOW I’VE FINISHED MY BUSINESS. NOW I CAN DO WHATEVER NONSENSE I LIKE, ‘NO’. KRSNA SAYS NO. Satata. THEREFORE WE HAVE TO PLAN OUR LIFE IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE HAVEN’T GOT ANY OTHER ENGAGEMENT THAN SERVICE OF KRSNA. THIS IS REQUIRED. Tesam satata-yuktanam. SATATA MEANS TWENTY-FOUR HOURS. Yukta means engaged. WHAT FOR? What is that engagement? Bhajatam. Bhajatam, bhaja sevayam: TO SERVE KRSNA. Bhajatam. How? Priti-purvakam. Not that ‘Oh, Krsna has said. All right, let me do.’ No. WITH LOVE AND AFFECTION. Then you’ll get attachment. UNLESS YOU DEVELOP LOVE FOR KRSNA, YOU CANNOT BE ENGAGED TWENTY-FOUR HOURS. THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE. Therefore it is said, priti-purvakam: NOT OFFICIALLY, BUT WITH LOVE. If you acquire this qualification, then you will talk with Krsna who is within your heart.” (750403CC.MAY)

“According to your recommendation I am accepting for second initiation Amala-harinama das Brahmacari and Viraja dasi. Now hold a fire ceremony for attendance of devotees only. YOU MUST BE SURE THAT THESE DEVOTEES ARE VERY STRICTLY FOLLOWING THE REGULATIVE PRINCIPLES AND CHANTING A MINIMUM OF SIXTEEN ROUNDS DAILY. THEY MUST BE FULLY ENGAGED IN DEVOTIONAL SERVICE, 24 HOURS PER DAY. Please find enclosed two gayatri mantra sheets and one sacred thread. After the fire sacrifice, play the tape of me reciting the gayatri mantra into the right ear of these initiates and show them how to count on their fingers.” (76-10-24.Rad)

“…A PURE DEVOTEE MUST ENGAGE IN THE SERVICE OF THE LORD TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY, WITHOUT CESSATION; HIS LIFE IS SO MOLDED THAT AT EVERY MINUTE AND EVERY SECOND HE ENGAGES IN SOME SORT OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE TO THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD.” (SB 3.29.11-12)

“Thus discussion of Srimad-Bhagavatam, which describes the character and pastimes of devotees and the Lord, is very quickly effective. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness has been organised for this purpose. IN EVERY CENTER OF THIS SOCIETY–NOT ONLY IN THE MORNING, EVENING OR NOON, BUT PRACTICALLY TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY–THERE IS CONTINUOUS DEVOTIONAL SERVICE GOING ON. Anyone who comes in contact with the Society automatically becomes a devotee. We have actual experience that many karmis and others come to the Society and find a very pleasing and peaceful atmosphere in the temples of ISKCON.” (SB 4.12.48)

“Smrtya means remembering Krsna always. LIFE SHOULD BE MOLDED IN SUCH A WAY THAT ONE CANNOT REMAIN ALONE WITHOUT THINKING OF KRSNA. We should live in Krsna so that while eating, sleeping, walking and working we remain only in Krsna. OUR KRSNA CONSCIOUS SOCIETY RECOMMENDS THAT WE ARRANGE OUR LIVING SO THAT WE CAN REMEMBER KRSNA. In our ISKCON society the devotees, while engaged in making Spiritual Sky incense, are also hearing about the glories of Krsna or His devotees. The sastra recommends, smartavyah satatam visnuh: LORD VISNU SHOULD BE REMEMBERED ALWAYS, CONSTANTLY. Vismartavyo na jatucit: VISNU SHOULD NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. THAT IS THE SPIRITUAL WAY OF LIFE. Smrtya. THIS REMEMBRANCE OF THE LORD CAN BE CONTINUED IF WE HEAR ABOUT HIM CONSTANTLY. It is therefore recommended in this verse: mukundacaritagrya-sidhuna. Sidhu means “nectar.” To hear about Krsna from Srimad-Bhagavatam or Bhagavad-gita or similar authentic literature is to live in Krsna consciousness. SUCH CONCENTRATION IN KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS CAN BE ACHIEVED BY PERSONS WHO ARE STRICTLY FOLLOWING THE RULES AND REGULATIVE PRINCIPLES. We have recommended in our Krsna consciousness movement that a devotee CHANT SIXTEEN ROUNDS ON BEADS DAILY AND FOLLOW THE REGULATIVE PRINCIPLES. That will help the devotee be fixed in his spiritual advancement in life.” (SB 4.22.24)

“In order to be recognized by Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, ONE SHOULD CHANT THE HOLY NAME OF THE LORD CONTINUOUSLY, TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY. Unfortunate persons who cannot accept this formula prefer to execute some type of pseudomeditation, without accepting the other processes of austerity. The fact is, however, that one must accept either the severe method of austerity described above to become purified or take to the process of devotional service recommended for pleasing the Supreme Lord, Krsna. The person who is Krsna conscious is most intelligent because in Kali-yuga it is not at all possible to undergo such severe austerities. We need only follow great personalities like Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. In His Siksastaka, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu wrote, param vijayate sri-krsna-sankirtanam: all glories to the holy names of Lord Krsna, which from the very beginning purify the heart and immediately liberate one. Bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam. If the real purpose of all yoga is to please Lord Krsna, then this simple bhakti-yoga system recommended for this age is sufficient. IT IS NECESSARY, HOWEVER, TO ENGAGE CONSTANTLY IN THE SERVICE OF THE LORD.” (SB 4.23.7)

“‘King Ambarisa always fixed his mind on the lotus feet of the Lord and talked of Him only.’ (Bhag. 9.4.19) We should also take this opportunity in life to become as good as a great saint simply by NOT TALKING UNNECESSARILY WITH UNWANTED PERSONS. WE SHOULD EITHER TALK OF KRSNA OR CHANT HARE KRSNA UNDEVIATINGLY. This is called muni-vrata. The intelligence must be very sharp (samahita-dhiyah) and should always be acting in Krsna consciousness. The words etad abhyasatadrtah indicate that if one takes these instructions from a spiritual master with great reverence (adrta) and practices them accordingly, he will find this bhakti-yoga process to be very, very easy.” (SB 4.24.71)

“This Krsna consciousness movement is therefore the greatest boon to humanity because it keeps one always engaged in Krsna’s service. THE DEVOTEES THINK OF KRSNA, ACT FOR KRSNA, EAT FOR KRSNA, SLEEP FOR KRSNA AND WORK FOR KRSNA. THUS EVERYTHING IS ENGAGED IN THE SERVICE OF KRSNA. A total life in Krsna consciousness saves one from material contamination.” (SB 4.30.19)

“Why should you try for any hard process? Simply chant Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. And YOU CAN CHANT TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY. THERE ARE NO RULES OR REGULATIONS. EITHER IN THE STREET OR IN THE SUBWAY, AT YOUR HOME OR IN YOUR OFFICE–THERE IS NO TAX, NO EXPENSE. WHY DON’T YOU DO IT?” (JSD 5.2)

“Asakrt means continuously. NOT THAT PERFORM KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS FIFTEEN MINUTES’ MEDITATION, AND THEN DO ALL NONSENSE THINGS, TWENTY-FOUR HOURS. NO, NO, NO, NO. NOT THAT KIND OF… TWENTY-FOUR HOURS ENGAGED IN KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS, THAT IS WANTED. That is called asakrt. Twenty-four. SO YOU HAVE TO MAKE YOUR FORMULA OF LIFE IN SUCH A WAY THAT NOT A SINGLE MOMENT IS GONE WITHOUT KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS.. Avyartha-kalatvam. This is Rupa Gosvami’s… A devotee, A PURE DEVOTEE OF KRSNA, HE ALWAYS SEES: “WHETHER MY TIME IS WASTED UNNECESSARILY?” He should be very much alert: “WHY I’M SLEEPING SO MUCH, WASTING SO MUCH TIME?” That is devotees, Krsna conscious. “OH, I AM WASTING SO MUCH TIME WITHOUT ANY ENGAGEMENT OF KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS?” That is called asakrt.” (741022SB.MAY)

“We take up the principle, to THINK OF KRSNA ALWAYS, TWENTY-FOUR HOURS. Satatam cintayanto, kirtayanto mam. If you CHANT KRSNA’S NAME, then satatam, TWENTY-FOUR HOURS… THAT IS POSSIBLE. Just like Haridasa Thakura used to do. Then you think of Krsna without fail, and OTHER THINGS AUTOMATICALLY COME. Man-mana bhava mad… WHO CAN DEVOTE SO MUCH TIME FOR THINKING OF…, UNLESS HE HAS BECOME A DEVOTEE? So man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji. And a devotee is always ready to worship Krsna, offer Him obeisances, however big he may be. In this way, we can attain this position of Maharaja Yudhisthira or Yasodamayi when Krsna, the Ajita, could be controlled, even by the devotee.” (741025SB.MAY)

“So we have to STICK TO THESE PRINCIPLES to keep ourselves on the transcendental platform, RISING EARLY IN THE MORNING, OFFER MANGALA ARATI, THEN GRADUALLY, ONE AFTER ANOTHER, ATTENDING CLASS, GURU-PUJA, AND SO ON, SO ON. UP TILL YOU GO TO BED, YOU SHOULD ALWAYS BE ENGAGED. Then you will be above these three gunas…So our these rules and regulation, restriction, means to keep one on the vasudeva platform. We should remember always that. And if you keep yourself on vasudeva platform, these things will not entice you. Otherwise we shall be enticed and fallen down.” (750828SB.VRN)

So this full-time engagement in Krishna consciousness is not fanatical. It’s the ONLY WAY out of the material way of life. In the beginning we may find such “full-time” Krishna consciousness a little austere, but it will purify our heart [if we are serving a pure devotee that is] and the dormant spark of Krishna consciousness will awaken within our hearts and serving Krishna will become transcendental bliss, spiritual ecstasy…

“It is said that one who has unflinching faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead, which means unflinching faith in the Vaisnava or the pure devotee of the Supreme Lord, develops all the good qualities of the demigods. Yasyasti bhaktir bhagavaty akincana. sarvair gunais tatra samasate surah (Bhag. 5.18.12). Prahlada Maharaja also said, naisam matis tavad urukramanghrim (Bhag. 7.5.32). UNLESS ONE TAKES THE DUST OF THE LOTUS FEET OF A PURE VAISNAVA ON ONE’S HEAD, ONE CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHAT THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD IS, and unless one knows the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one’s life remains imperfect. A GREAT SOUL WHO HAS FULLY SURRENDERED TO THE SUPREME LORD AFTER UNDERSTANDING HIM FULLY and after repeatedly undergoing austerities and penances for many, many lives IS VERY RARE.” (SB 4.21.43)

“So that is the position of guru. Guru is respected as good as God. Why? Only for this qualification, that HE DOES NOT SPEAK ANYTHING NONSENSE. HE SPEAKS ONLY WHAT HE HAS HEARD FROM THE ACARYA…” (760904SB.VRN)

ISKCON has constantly ignored the point of the GURUS QUALIFICATIONS and advertised so many UNQUALIFIED men as “bona fide ISKCON gurus”… The only “qualification” they have is approval by the GBC… Their argument is “Srila Prabhupada wanted his disciples to become gurus, we are Srila Prabhupada’s disciples therefore we must be the gurus!” But ISKCON have NEVER consider the QUALIFICATIONS of a bona fide guru and checked to see if their “gurus” actually possess all of these QUALIFICATIONS… And now they are very busy trying to concoct a watered-down “guru tattva” to accommodate this…

“…You can thin milk by adding water and you can make it thick by boiling. Now is the time for us to begin the boiling process. Now you know everything how to be a Vaisnava brahmana, now YOU MUST PRACTICE THESE THINGS OR THE WHOLE THING WILL BE A SHOW ONLY. BETTER TO DEVELOP THE SMALL NUMBER OF DEVOTEES WE HAVE, MAKE THEM TRULY KRISHNA CONSCIOUS BOYS AND GIRLS THAN TO GO ON GETTING MANY FOLLOWERS WHO DO NOT UNDERSTAND AND PRACTICE THE REAL PRINCIPLES. BETTER ONE MOON THAN MANY STARS. (72-05-09.Dam)

“This is instruction, that anyone who has become competent to control the tongue, to control the mind, to control the anger, to control the belly and control the genital…, if six kind of control is there, he is fit for becoming spiritual master; he can make disciples all over the world. AND IF YOU CANNOT CONTROL YOUR TONGUE, IF YOU CANNOT CONTROL YOUR ANGER, CONTROL YOUR MENTAL CONCOCTION, THEN HOW YOU CAN BECOME EVEN A SPIRITUAL MASTER? THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE. Prthivim sa sisyat. One who did… That is called gosvami, gosvami or svami, master of the senses. Master of controlling these six kinds.” (730804BG.LON)

This nonsense watered-down ISKCON philosophy has spoiled everything. What is the use? They’re trying to create sentimental followers of unqualified gurus. They’re trying for a few twinkling stars. But what will a few stars do? It’s completely useless. THE GURU IS A PURE DEVOTEE… What more can I say? Srila Prabhupada has said it all already so many times… Why not listen to him and follow his instructions? That is the path of true auspiciousness and the success of every disciples life…

“It is said that A SINGLE PURE DEVOTEE OF THE LORD CAN DELIVER ALL THE FALLEN SOULS OF THE WORLD. Thus one who is actually in the confidence of a pure devotee like Narada or Sukadeva Gosvami and thus is empowered by one’s spiritual master, as Narada was by Brahmaji, can not only deliver himself from the clutches of maya, or illusion, but CAN DELIVER THE WHOLE WORLD BY HIS PURE AND EMPOWERED DEVOTIONAL STRENGTH…” (SB 2.8.5)

“So sometimes people give me very much credit that I have done wonderful throughout the whole world. But I do not know that I am wonderful man. But I know one thing, that I AM SPEAKING WHAT KRSNA HAS SPOKEN. THAT’S ALL. I AM NOT MAKING ANY ADDITION, ALTERATION. Therefore I am presenting Bhagavad-gita as it is. This credit I can take, that I don’t make any nonsense addition or alteration. And I see practically it has become successful. I have not bribed so many Europeans and Americans. I am poor Indian. I came to America with forty rupees with me, and now I possess forty crores. So there is no magic. So this is the secret, that if you want to become guru honestly… If you want to cheat, that is another thing. There are so many cheaters. People also want to be cheated. As soon as we say that “IF YOU WANT TO BECOME MY DISCIPLE, YOU WILL HAVE TO GIVE UP FOUR THINGS: NO ILLICIT SEX, NO INTOXICATION UP TO DRINKING TEA AND SMOKING CIGARETTE, NO MEAT-EATING AND NO GAMBLING,” and they criticize me, “Swamiji is very conservative.” And if I say that “You can do all nonsense, whatever you like. You simply take this mantra and give me $125,” they will like. Because in America, $125 is nothing. Any man can pay immediately. SO I WOULD HAVE COLLECTED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IF I WOULD HAVE CHEATED LIKE THAT. BUT I DO NOT WANT THAT. I WANT ONE STUDENT WHO FOLLOWS MY INSTRUCTION. I DON’T WANT MILLIONS. Ekas candras tamo hanti na ca tara-sahasrasah. If there is one moon in the sky, that is sufficient for illumination. There is no need of millions of stars. SO MY POSITION IS THAT I WANT TO SEE THAT AT LEAST ONE DISCIPLE HAS BECOME PURE DEVOTEE. Of course, I have got many sincere and pure devotees. That is my good luck. But I would have been satisfied if I could find out one only. There is no need of so-called millions of stars.” (750715AR.SF)

Instead of concentrating on creating some pure devotees ISKCON is busy in so many other watered-down money-making projects involving the Hindu Community mainly… For example, the Melbourne Temple in Australia is encouraging their “devotees” to come up to the standard of: (1) Chanting ONE round of the Hare Krishna mantra daily. (2) Reading ONE Verse & Purport of Bhagavad-gita daily.(3) Giving at least ONE DOLLAR A DAY to the temple. (4) Offering ONE hour of service per week. (5) Coming to the temple ONCE a week (Sunday Feast). And the temple president states: “If we can develop a core group of persons committed to these five principles we can increase the spiritual mood and enthusiasm of our whole community beyond our expectations.” So they have their five principles. BUT WHAT ABOUT SRILA PRABHUPADA’S FOUR REGULATIVE PRINCIPLES? There is ABSOLUTELY NO MENTION of them at all… [no illicit sex, no meat-eating, no gambling and no intoxication] And chanting at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra daily? Does anyone remember that principle?

“Well, this is a very difficult job, naturally. We don’t have a large number of followers. AS SOON AS YOU TRY TO SELL A DIAMOND, YOU CANNOT EXPECT MANY CUSTOMERS. NONETHELESS, A DIAMOND IS A DIAMOND, EVEN IF THERE ARE NO CUSTOMERS. The number of customers is not the test. THE CUSTOMER MUST PAY THE VALUE OF THE ITEM. IN THIS SOCIETY WE PROPOSE THAT YOU GIVE UP ILLICIT SEX, MEAT-EATING, INTOXICATION AND GAMBLING. WHEN PEOPLE HEAR THIS, THEY GO AWAY SAYING, ‘OH, SWAMIJI IS VERY CONSERVATIVE.’ But I cannot become liberal and tell everybody, ‘Go ahead and do all nonsense and you can become God conscious.’ I cannot possibly recommend that. THEREFORE MY FIRST CONDITION IS THAT IF SOMEONE WANTS TO BECOME MY STUDENT HE HAS TO FOLLOW THESE FOUR REGULATIVE PRINCIPLES. CONSEQUENTLY I DO NOT HAVE MANY FOLLOWERS, BUT I DO HAVE A SELECT FEW. BECAUSE THEY ARE SELECT, THEY WILL BRING ABOUT A REVOLUTION IN THE WORLD. One moon is sufficient to dissipate darkness. IF THERE IS ONE MOON, THERE IS NO NEED FOR MILLIONS OF STARS. IT IS USELESS TO EXPECT A LARGE NUMBER OF FOLLOWERS. WE WANT ONLY ONE GOOD FOLLOWER. IF I CAN GET ONE MAN TO BECOME KRSNA CONSCIOUS, I WILL CONSIDER MY MISSION FULFILLED. If you talk to whatever small number of followers I have, you will find that they talk better than any great philosopher, better than any scientist or politician. That is the quality of my students. What’s the point in talking nonsense? ONE’S WORDS MAY BE SIMPLE, BUT THEY SHOULD BE VALUABLE. Every day your employer is printing so many newspapers. On Sunday, especially, the paper is so big that one can hardly carry it. But after reading it an hour, people throw it away. Here is this book, BHAGAVAD-GITA, and PEOPLE KEEP IT AND READ IT FOR A LIFETIME, and in this way it has been read for the past 5,000 years. GIVE SUCH LITERATURE AND IT WILL BE TAKEN AND KEPT FOREVER.” (720902iv.nv)

“No, we don’t take that, by number of people. … Ekas candras tamo hanti: ‘IF ONE MAN ACCEPTS, THEN HE CAN BECOME THE BRIGHT MOON.’ Na ca tarah sahasrasah: ‘THE SO-CALLED STARS HAVE NO VALUE.’ ONE MOON IS SUFFICIENT. So our preaching is: Let one man understand Bhagavad-gita As It Is. WE DON’T WANT DISCIPLES. I NEVER COLLECTED DISCIPLES. I NEVER COMPROMISED that “You can do whatever you like, and you become my disciple. “No. YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW THIS. Now also, this morning, I accepted so many… ‘First promise whether you are going to do this. Then I initiate.’ This is my policy. IF I WOULD HAVE SAID, ‘NO, YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU LIKE, AND GIVE ME SOME MONEY. I SHALL GIVE YOU MANTRA,’ THEN YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN MILLIONS, BUT I ACCEPT VERY SELECTED DISCIPLE, not that anyone, everyone comes, and I accept disciple. No. HE IS FIRST OF ALL TRAINED UP SIX MONTHS. THEN, WHEN HE IS ABLE TO PROMISE TO FOLLOW THE REGULATIVE [PRINCIPLES]….” (750520rc.mel)

“I don’t make any compromise with these rascals. No words. No, no. I never made that. Even if I don’t get any disciples, I’ll be satisfied. But I can’t make any compromise like these rascals. I cannot make. Ekas candras tamo hanti na ca tara sahasrasah. IF I CREATE ONE MOON, THAT IS SUFFICIENT. I DON’T WANT MANY STARS. THAT WAS MY GURU MAHARAJA’S PRINCIPLE, AND THAT IS MY PRINCIPLE. WHAT IS THE USE OF HAVING NUMBER OF FOOLS AND RASCALS? IF ONE MAN UNDERSTANDS RIGHTLY, HE CAN DELIVER THE WHOLE WORLD.” (740323mw.bom)

“…how to love God. It is not our proposition that you are Christian, you become Hindu, or you are Mohammedan, you become Christian, increase our numerical strength. We don’t want. WE DON’T WANT ANY NUMERICAL STRENGTH. WE WANT ONE SINCERE PERSON WHO HAS LEARNED TO LOVE GOD, KRSNA. That’s all. I have come to your country with this mission, and if I find one or two boys or girls sincerely have learned how to love God, Krsna, then my mission is successful. I’m not after any number of… Because IF I CAN TURN ONE SOUL TO THIS KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS, HE’LL DO TREMENDOUS WORK, BECAUSE HE’LL BE FIRE. You see? He can do tremendous work. Ekas candras tamo hanti na ca tarah sahasrasah. ONE MOON IS COMPLETE TO DRIVE AWAY THE DARKNESS OF NIGHT, NOT MILLIONS OF STARS REQUIRED. WHAT THESE MILLIONS OF STARS CAN DO? One moon is sufficient. So our propaganda is to create one moon. You see? But fortunately, by Krsna’s grace, many moonlike boys and girls have come to me. You see? Many moons. (chuckles) I was thinking of having only one moon, but Krsna… I AM HOPEFUL THAT THERE ARE MANY MOONS, and in future they’ll be doing very nice. This is para-upakara. To spread this Krsna consciousness movement is the best service to the humanity. Please try to understand this. It is not a bluffing thing. To love God, prema pumartho mahan… Caitanya Mahaprabhu said that the highest achievement in the human form of life is to attain perfectional stage to love God. That is the highest. Not dharmartha-kama-moksa.” (690412LE.NY)

Anyhow we have all seen what the current watered-down unauthorized “Non-Liberated Guru System” has done to ISKCON. I can’t bring myself to describe it. Everyone knows these 100+ “bona fide” ISKCON gurus are not all “bona fide” and serving them is NOT NOT NOT the same as serving Srila Prabhupada… Please don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting they’re not devotees or they’re demons or anything like that. They’re just not self-effulgent pure devotee Vaisnava acaryas capable of taking themselves and their disciples back home, back to Godhead. Such a great soul is very, very rare. For ISKCON to present them as such and force innocent bhaktas to take initiation from them knowing well they are not capable of taking them back home, back to Godhead, is the most heinous type of fraud, the greatest criminal activity.

“One also has to associate with such a mahatma who has accepted Krsna as the supreme source of the entire creation. WITHOUT BEING A MAHATMA, ONE CANNOT UNDERSTAND KRSNA’S ABSOLUTE POSITION. A MAHATMA IS RARE AND TRANSCENDENTAL, AND HE IS A PURE DEVOTEE OF LORD KRSNA. Foolish people consider Krsna a human being, and they consider Lord Krsna’s pure devotee an ordinary human being also. Whatever one may be, ONE MUST TAKE SHELTER AT THE LOTUS FEET OF A DEVOTEE MAHATMA AND TREAT HIM AS THE MOST EXALTED WELL-WISHER OF ALL HUMAN SOCIETY. We should take shelter of such a mahatma and ask for his causeless mercy. ONLY BY HIS BENEDICTION CAN ONE BE RELIEVED FROM ATTACHMENT TO A MATERIALISTIC WAY OF LIFE. When one is thus relieved, he can engage in the Lord’s transcendental loving service through the mercy of the mahatma.” (Madhya 22.51)

“The perfection of transcendental life can be achieved simply by touching the holy dust of the lotus feet of a holy man. In the Bhagavatam it is said, mahat-pada-rajo-‘bhisekam, which means to be blessed by the holy dust of the lotus feet of a mahat, a great devotee. As stated in Bhagavad-gita, mahatmanas tu: those who are great souls are under the spell of spiritual energy, and their symptom is that they fully engage in Krsna consciousness for the service of the Lord. Therefore they are called mahat. UNLESS ONE IS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE THE DUST OF THE LOTUS FEET OF A MAHATMA ON ONE’S HEAD, THERE IS NO POSSIBILITY OF PERFECTION IN SPIRITUAL LIFE.” (SB 3.22.6)

Accepting a bogus guru is generally the end of one’s spiritual life. If one is fooled into surrendering to an unqualifed person and is cheated by him it’s very difficult to surrender again… The heart is broken, so these ISKCON “gurus,” even though they may think they’re just like Prabhupada and just as good as Prabhupada, should not be allowed to initiate in ISKCON unless they show some potency just like Prabhupada’s potency, unless they are self-effulgent Vaisnava acaryas. We have to see the symptoms first.

“‘ANY PERSON WHO SERIOUSLY DESIRES TO ACHIEVE REAL HAPPINESS MUST SEEK OUT A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER AND TAKE SHELTER OF HIM BY INITIATION. THE QUALIFICATION OF HIS SPIRITUAL MASTER IS THAT HE MUST HAVE REALIZED THE CONCLUSION OF THE SCRIPTURES BY DELIBERATION AND BE ABLE TO CONVINCE OTHERS OF THESE CONCLUSIONS. Such great personalities, who have taken shelter of the Supreme Godhead, leaving aside all material considerations, are to be understood as bona fide spiritual masters.’ Similarly, Visvanatha Cakravarti, a great Vaisnava, also advises, yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah:’By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the mercy of Krsna.’ This is the same advice given by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu (guru-krsna-prasade paya bhakti-lata-bija). This is essential. ONE MUST COME TO KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS, AND THEREFORE ONE MUST TAKE SHELTER OF A PURE DEVOTEE. Thus one can become free from the clutches of matter.” (SB 5.14.41)

Just look at what Srila Prabhupada did from 1966-1977, eleven years, and compare his one-man effort to the results of his “successors” preaching from 1977-1998 [almost] 22 years. They’ve had twice as long and there are 100+ of them compared to just one Prabhupada! Have they done100 times as much as Srila Prabhupada? Even combined together have they done as much as Srila Prabhupada? NO NO NO… They have UNDONE almost all the good work done by Srila Prabhupada! They have turned his society, ISKCON, into a completely mundane watered-down religious organization and driven out anyone at all who is seriously interested in strictly following Srila Prabhupada’s instructions. Also they train all the devotees to become offensive toward anyone who wants to take shelter of Srila Prabhupada!

“‘Only unto one who has unflinching devotion to the Lord and to the spiritual master does transcendental knowledge become automatically revealed.’ SUCH RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE DISCIPLE AND THE SPIRITUAL MASTER IS ETERNAL. ONE WHO IS NOW THE DISCIPLE IS THE NEXT SPIRITUAL MASTER. AND ONE CANNOT BE A BONA FIDE AND AUTHORIZED SPIRITUAL MASTER UNLESS ONE HAS BEEN STRICTLY OBEDIENT TO HIS SPIRITUAL MASTER. Brahmaji, as a disciple of the Supreme Lord, received the real knowledge and imparted it to his dear disciple Narada, and similarly Narada, as spiritual master, handed over this knowledge to Vyasa and so on. THEREFORE THE SO-CALLED FORMAL SPIRITUAL MASTER AND DISCIPLE ARE NOT FACSIMILES OF BRAHMA AND NARADA OR NARADA AND VYASA. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BRAHMA AND NARADA IS REALITY, WHILE THE SO-CALLED FORMALITY IS THE RELATION BETWEEN THE CHEATER AND CHEATED. It is clearly mentioned herewith that Narada is not only well behaved, meek and obedient, but also self-controlled. ONE WHO IS NOT SELF-CONTROLLED, SPECIFICALLY IN SEX LIFE, CAN BECOME NEITHER A DISCIPLE NOR A SPIRITUAL MASTER. One must have disciplinary training in controlling speaking, anger, the tongue, the mind, the belly and the genitals. One who has controlled the particular senses mentioned above is called a gosvami. Without becoming a gosvami one can become neither a disciple nor a spiritual master. THE SO-CALLED SPIRITUAL MASTER WITHOUT SENSE CONTROL IS CERTAINLY THE CHEATER, AND THE DISCIPLE OF SUCH A SO-CALLED SPIRITUAL MASTER IS THE CHEATED.” (SB 2.9.43)

“…In this verse, yogesvara-upasana means to render service to a pure devotee. Thus Narottama dasa Thakura says, chadiya vaisnava-seva nistara payeche keba: WITHOUT SERVING A PURE DEVOTEE, ONE CANNOT ADVANCE IN SPIRITUAL LIFE.” (SB 4.22.22)

Anyhow the ISKCON devotees should wake up and rectify everything and return everything to the way it was in Srila Prabhupada’s physical presence, it’s not too late yet. It’s the last chance really, otherwise ISKCON will no longer exist and Srila Prabhupada’s mission will have to spread in other ways. But it will go on. There’s no stopping it. Even “ISKCON” cannot stop Srila Prabhupada’s mission or his sincere followers, no matter how hard they try.

“Lord Caitanya then asked Ramananda Raya, “Out of many so-called liberated souls, who is actually liberated?” Ramananda replied that HE WHO IS ACTUALLY COMPLETELY SATURATED WITH THE DEVOTIONAL LOVE FOR RADHA AND KRSNA IS CONSIDERED TO BE THE BEST OF ALL LIBERATED PERSONS. It is stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (6.14.4) that A DEVOTEE OF NARAYANA IS SO RARE THAT ONE CAN ONLY FIND HIM OUT OF MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.” (TLC 32)

So, in summary, since 1977 ISKCON has forced new devotees to give up their relationship with Srila Prabhupada, to stop worshiping Srila Prabhupada [or at least to meditate on their own “Guru” instead of Srila Prabhupada while apparently worshiping Srila Prabhupada!], to stop offering bhoga to Srila Prabhupada, to stop chanting Srila Prabhupada’s pranam mantras, and INSTEAD to take initiation and OFFER EVERYTHING to the institutionalised “ISKCON LIVING GURUS” who ISKCON quite openly admit are generally not pure devotees at all… The result of conditioned souls taking the post of acarya and guru is plain and clear for all to see. These non-liberated ISKCON gurus have NOT been able to “deliver the goods” (pure devotional service to Krishna) to their disciples and in the process Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON has been destroyed and so many sincere followers of Srila Prabhupada have been branded as “heretics” and bashed, blasphemed and banned from ISKCON temples.

“…In the Garuda Purana IT IS said to be MORE RARE TO BE A FAMOUS DEVOTEE OF THE SUPREME LORD IN THE AGE OF KALI THAN TO BE A DEMIGOD such as Brahma or Lord Siva…” (TLC 32)

The result is tens of thousands of devotees spiritual lives have been servery damaged and the whole world is now without any association of pure devotees dedicated to practicing and preaching pure devotional service as taught by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

“Thus Lord Caitanya told Sanatana Gosvami that ALL SCRIPTURES STRESS ASSOCIATION WITH PURE DEVOTEES OF THE GODHEAD. THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASSOCIATE WITH A PURE DEVOTEE OF THE SUPREME LORD IS THE BEGINNING OF ONE’S COMPLETE PERFECTION. This is also confirmed in Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.18.13) where it is said that the facilities and benedictions which one achieves by association with a pure devotee are incomparable. They cannot be compared to anything–neither elevation to the heavenly kingdom nor liberation from material energy. Lord Krsna also confirms this in the most confidential instruction in Bhagavad-gita…:” (TLC 11)

There are thousands of relevant quotes from Srila Prabhupada’s books, letters, classes, etc. I would like to put in here but if I put in thousands of quotes who will read it? So my humble request is that you please read and hear all Srila Prabhupada’s books, letters, classes, conversations, etc. for yourself. It’s the most wonderful thing. Personal association with a real bona fide pure devotee!

“…This is simply a bodily concern. Here Dhruva Maharaja plainly says that a devotee has no more bodily interest. HE KNOWS THAT HE IS NOT THE BODY. From the very beginning, therefore, without wasting time in bodily exercises, A DEVOTEE SEARCHES OUT A PURE DEVOTEE and simply by his association becomes more advanced in spiritual consciousness than any yogi. BECAUSE A DEVOTEE KNOWS THAT HE IS NOT THE BODY, HE IS NEVER AFFECTED BY BODILY HAPPINESS OR DISTRESS. He is not interested in bodily relationships with wife, children, home, bank balance, etc., or in the distress and happiness which come from these things. This is the special advantage of being a devotee. THIS STATUS OF LIFE IS POSSIBLE ONLY WHEN A PERSON IS INTERESTED IN ASSOCIATING WITH A PURE DEVOTEE, who always enjoys the fragrance of the lotus feet of the Lord.

“Bhattacarya offered him his due respect and replied, “My dear Gopinatha Acarya, it is through your mercy that I have received the mercy of the Supreme Lord.” THE MERCY OF THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD CAN BE OBTAINED BY THE MERCY OF A PURE DEVOTEE. Lord Caitanya’s mercy was bestowed upon Bhattacarya because of Gopinatha Acarya’s endeavour. ‘You are a great devotee of the Lord,’ Bhattacarya continued, ‘and I was simply blinded by my academic education. Yes, I have obtained the mercy of the Lord through your agency only.’ Lord Caitanya Himself was greatly pleased to hear Bhattacarya say that a man can obtain the mercy of the Lord through the agency of a devotee. He appreciated his words and embraced Bhattacarya, confirming his statement.” (TLC 26)

Thank you for reading this. All glories to your service. Please give me your blessings. Chant Hare Krishna and read Srila Prabhupada’s books and be happy!

“There are many liberated souls and perfected souls, but out of all of them he who is a devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is best. THE DEVOTEES OF THE SUPREME LORD ARE ALWAYS CALM AND QUIET, and THEIR PERFECTION IS VERY RARELY SEEN. EVEN IN MILLIONS OF PERSONS.” Prakasananda also quoted another verse (Bhag. 10.4.46) in which it is stated that ONE’S DURATION OF LIFE, PROSPERITY, FAME, RELIGION AND THE BENEDICTION OF HIGHER AUTHORITIES ARE ALL LOST WHEN ONE OFFENDS A DEVOTEE. Prakasananda also quoted another verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam (7.5.32) which said that all the misgivings of the conditioned soul disappear at the touch of the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. However, ONE CANNOT TOUCH THE LOTUS FEET OF THE SUPREME LORD UNLESS ONE RECEIVES THE BENEDICTION OF THE DUST OF THE LOTUS FEET OF THE LORD’S PURE DEVOTEE. In other words, ONE CANNOT BECOME A PURE DEVOTEE OF THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD UNLESS HE IS FAVOURED BY ANOTHER PURE DEVOTEE of the Lord.” (TLC 22)

Your fallen servant,

Madhudvisa dasa

Tags: acarya, Bhaktivedanta Swami, Hare Krishna, ISKCON, Prabhupada, spiritual master, Spiritual Master / Guru

About the Author

Madhudvisa dasa My first contact with a Hare Krishna was a most merciful Mataji in Oxford Street, London who sold me a "Higher Taste" cook book in 1984 while I was on holidays there. I started seriously reading Srila Prabhupada's books in Australia 1985 and by 1986 Srila Prabhupada had convinced me "Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead" and "we should surrender to Krishna." I joined the Hare Krishnas in Perth, Western Australia in 1986. Since then I have been chanting Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, reading and distributing Srila Prabhupada's books and preaching as much as I can. That's my life and full-time occupation now really. I like it more than anything I've ever experienced before. Srila Prabhupada's books are so amazing... Even after reading them all many times they're still fresh and new. They are truly transcendental! That's it really. Now I'm just hankering to once again see the world chant Hare Krishna, dance and feast and float away in the ecstasy of Lord Caitanya's Sankirtana movement as it did in Srila Prabhupada's physical presence. Let the whole world drown in the ecstatic flood of love of Krishna!

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